Multiple form aligning device



Dec. 13, 1938. E J. NICHOLS I MULTIPLE FORM ALIGNING DEVICE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1956 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY. v

Dec. 13, 1938. E. J. NICHOLS MULTIPLE FORM ALIGNING DEVICE Filed May 22,1936 5 Sheets-sheaf 2 INVENTOR IZZs'zJ-arZ/EJ 229L919 ATTORNEY Dec. 13,1938. NICHOLS 2,140,028

MULTIPLE FORM ALIGNING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. is; 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE FORM memennvrcn I Ellsworth: J. Nichols, Newark, N. I. Application May 22, ms,Serial No. 81,281

This invention relates, generally, to means for maintaining multipleforms, such as are used in electric accounting and tabulating machines,in alignment, and the invention has reference, more particularly, to anovel multiple form aligning device adapted to be readily attached tothe above mentioned and similar machines for accomplishing'this result.I

In operating electric accounting and tabulating machines considerabledifficulty has been experienced in the past in endeavoring to maintainthe several superimposed continuous forms in alignment while passingthrough the machines due to the slippage be een the success'ive forms.This slippage is c ulative so that with long forms considerablemisalignment results between the upper and lower forms and if the formshave printed matter thereon, the typewritten material is not properlylocated 0 with respect thereto and such typewritten material at times iswritten upon the printed matter instead of in the spaces therebetween.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novelmultipleform aligning device that may be readily attached to accountintabulating' and similar machines and which serves to positively. andcontinuously align the several superimposed "continuous length formsboth horizontally and vertically, thereby pro'' viding fpr the properand identical location of the typewritten matter on the, original andall of the duplicate form copies.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novelmultiple form aligning device of the above character comprising a framemember carrying pulley driven non-slipping endless belts or tapes havingdriving pins thereon for engaging in rows of perforations pro vided inthe continuous length forms, to thereby o insure the alignment oi theforms at all times, the said pulley driven belts operating ,syn-

chronism with the" machine form feed. Still another object of thepresent invention is to provide a novel multiple form aligning device ofthe above character wherein the aligning belts or tapes are readilyadjustable simultaneously to accommcdate various widths of continuouslength forms and are also simultaneously movable for operating uponforms" located 50 at any desired position along the length of themachine platen.

.Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will. be clearly understood from the following detailed 55description of the same.

. of Fig. 8 with parts broken away.

9 Claims. .(01. 197-133) 'The invention is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel mul-- tiple form aligningdevice shown applied to an electric accounting and tabulating machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged part sectional view of a portion of the structureof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in plan 01 a portion of the structure ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view looking up at the structure of Fig. 3'from below. I

Fig. '5 isa-perspective view partly broken away ,of the endless; beltaligning means and associated parts.

Fig. 6 is a vertical view taken along line 6-6 I of Fig. 12.

Fig. '7 is a composite viewshowing the several parts of the aligningmeans prior to assembly.

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the'assembled aligning means of Fig. 7,and 'Fig. 9 is a perspective view or the structure Similar characters ofreference are employed in said views, to indicate corresponding Darts.

Referring now to the several figures of the.

drawings, the reference numeral l designates an electric accounting andtabulating machine of a type well known to those skilled in the art.This machine is adapted to receive a continuous length form 2 suppliedfroma form pack I resting upon the shelf of a stand 5. Form 2 consistsof an original and as many form copies as 'desired, carbon paper beingintetlined between consecutive superimposed form copies for transmitting the impression of the machine type to allcopies simultaneously.The form 2 is providedwith a series ofequally spaced perforations 6,adjacent itsside edges, the said periorations extending through allcopies of the form.

The continuous length form 2 passes between metal'guides 1 and 8 andthen down and around andup and over the cylindrical machine platen '9,whereuponthe form passes over the inclined guide 8 and then. over theflat guide ill to be supplied to a receiving pack ll resting upon asheli l2 of stand 5.

According to the preferred arrangement, the novelmultiple form aligningdevice of this invention comprises a substantially rectangular framemember is made adjustable with respect to machine The frame member i3 isshown in the drawings as inclined somewhat to accommodate the same tothe general inclination of the form 2 after it leaves the platen 9. Apair of spaced shafts l8 and I9 extend longitudinally of the frame I3and have their end portions journaled in the end members ofthis frame.

Shafts l8 and I9 are splined, i. e. provided with key-ways 20 forslidingly receiving keys 20 fixed on pulleys 2| and. 22 that areslidably though non-rotatably mounted on these shafts. Two sets ofpulleys 2| and 22 are employed, the two pulleys 2| being keyed uponshaft l8 and the two pulleys 22 being keyed upon shaft 9. Shaft I8 issuitably connected as by means of a sprocket chain drive 23 and spurgearing 24 to the platen shaft 25, whereby shaft I8 is caused to move insynchronism with the platen shaft 25; this latter shaft serving to driveshaft |8. Looped around the peripheries of pulleys 2| and 22 are endlessbelts or tapes 26 having regularlyspaced outwardly projecting pins 21thereon, which pins are adapted to engage in the apertures orperforations 6 of the form set, to thereby positively retain all sheetsof the form set in alignment while aiding in the movement of the formset.

In order to assure that the surface speed of the belts 26 shall beidentical with that of the surface of platen 9, the belts 26 are alsoprovided with inwardly projecting pins 28 that are adapted to engage indepressions or pockets 29 provided in the peripheries of pulleys 2| and22. The gearing 23 and 24 is such that pulleys 2| drive belts 26 at aspeed synchronized with the moving form so that any sheets of the formwhich tend to fall behind the desired speed are prevented from doing soby the pins 21 on belts 26 which pins serve to positively advance thesesheets at the same rate as the inner sheet, i. e. the sheet adjacent theplaten 8. In order to-insure the engagement of pins 21 in perforations6, suitable guide means are carried by the frame member.

| 3 so, as to assure this result.

Such guide means comprises a plate member 36 associated with each pairof said pulleys 2|- '22.- This plate member 30 is supported on pulleys2| 22 by being provided with substantially semicircular recesses 3| inits ends which recesses are adapted to engage around thehubs 36 ofpulleys 2|22. The hubs 36 of these pulleysare provided with peripheralannular grooves 32 of a width to accommodate the ends of plate member 30whereby the plate member may be suspended at its ends upon the hubs ofpulleys 2|22 as especially shown in Fig. 5, the recesses 3| providingthe plate member 30 with forked ends which engage in the grooves 32 andallow the pulleys to turn with respect to the plate member 30. Platemember 30 is provided with a lower guide projection 33 extending atright angles with respect to the main body of plate member,

36 for overlying the lower run of belt 26 so as to prevent the same frombulging up in use which would cause pins 21 to disengage one or more ofthe form sheets. This guide projection 33 is provided with alongitudinal slot or aperture 35 therein for accommodating the movementof pins 28. Guide 33 is provided with turned up ends 34 and 34' thatextend above the pins 28 at the ends of slot 35 to provide metal forsupporting,

the outer part of this guide, the ends 34 and 34' also facilitating thepassage of the belt thereform 2 as it leaves this pulley. The upwardly.

moving pins 21 on belt 26 as it passes around pulley 22 tendto lift theform 2 upwardly somewhat but such upward lifting is prevented by guide31. This guide has a recess 38 therein for enabling the passage of pins21.

A bracket is provided with slots 46 for receiving wing bolts 41, wherebythis bracket may be adjustably attached to the plate member 39. Bracket45 is provided with a guide projection 48 of substantially rectangularshape which is adapted to underlie the form set 2 as it passes beneaththe belt 26. The end portions of the guide projections 48 are downturned at 49 and 49' to facilitate the passage of the form set 2thereover. This guide projection is also provided with a longitudinalslot 50 for accommodating the projecting ends of pins 21 that extendbelow the form set 2. The slots 46 and wing bolts 41 enable the guideprojection 48 to be adjusted with respect to guide projection 33 toaccommodate form sets of varying thicknesses, the thicknesses of theform sets depending upon the number of sheets therein.

In order to accommodate the transverse spacing of belts 26 to variouswidths of forms the plate members 30 have nuts 5| fixed thereonsubstantially midway of the length of the same. The nut 5| on one of theplate members 30 is provided with a right hand thread for engaging theright hand threads 52 provided on one half the length of a threaded rod53. The nut 5| of the other plate member is provided with a left handthread for engaging the left hand threads 54 on the remaining half ofthe'rod 53. A block 6| is journaled on an unthreaded portion of rod 53at the mid-length thereof and collars 62 secured to rod 53 at each sideof block 6| serve to confine this block to a fixed positionlongitudinally upon rod 53. Block 6| carries a threaded stud 55 thatprojects through a slot 56 provided in a bar 51 extending longitudinallyof frame member l3 and parallel to rod 53, said bar 51 having its ends-It will be noted that the hubs 36 of pulleys 2| and 22 are provided withannular grooves 32' similar to grooves 32. Grooves 32' receive thebifurcated or semi-circular recessed ends of plates 38 that are securedto nuts 5| as by screws 39. Plates 38 are provided with circularapertures 49 for accommodating the rod 53. With plate 38 secured to nut5| and hence to plate member 30, a rigid structure is provided forsupporting the guides 33, 31 and 48 upon the hubs of pulleys 2| and 22,and for threadedly connecting rod 53 tothe aligning units.

In order to accommodate the aligning units to forms placed at differentpositions along the length of the platen 9, it is merely necessary toloosen wing nut 58 and move rod 53 longitudinally, therebysimultaneously moving the aligning units consisting of belts 26, pulleys2| and 22,

, of frame members I3 are provided with aperturesplate members 30 andbrackets 45 to the position desired transversely of the machine I. Afterlo cating the-spaced aligning units in the position desired the nut 58is again tightened, The ends turndrive belts 26 so thatthe surface speedof thesebelts is the same as that of platen 9. Pins 28 on belts 26'byengaging in pulley recesses 29 prevent these belts from slipping so thatthe pins 21 of belts 26 engaging in the form apertures 6' serve toadvance theform 2 at a rate truly synchronous with thatlimpart'ed to theform 2 by platen 9. Guides 33 .and 48 serve to insure the,

proper engagement of pins 21 in apertures or perforations 6 of the form2 and prevent the transverse distortion of this form lwhilelpassing thealigning units; the guides 48 serving to support the form, and theguides 33 serving to hold the lower rim of belt-26 down n properengagement with the form so that pi s 21 shall engage all sheets thereofto cause allsuch sheets to ad'- vance with the same intermittentmotionand at the same rate of speed, i

When it is desired to change from one width 0 form to another it ismerely necessaryto turn crank 60, thereby accomplishing this result. The

- adjustment of rod 53 longitudinally ofbar, 51 bychine.

As manychanges could be made in the above means of wing nut 58 serves/toplace the form in any transverse position desired acrossthe'ma--construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of thisinvention could be made set is in engagement with the pins of saidbelt,-

without departing from the scope thereof, as

defined by the following claims, it isintended that all matter containedin the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting I claim:- 1. In amultiple continuous form aligning de-; vice for retaining the formcopies of a form se in alignment while passing through a'machine,

' an aligningunit comprising, an endless b elt,[\

spaced pulleys for supporting said endless bltf driven by one'of saidpulleys, projecting pins provided on said belt for engaging inperforations in the form set, guides carried by said pulleys for holdingthe form set in engagement with the pins of a run of said belts, saidguides being longi tudinally slotted to accommodate movement of saidpins, and means for rotating said driving pulley whereby said beltmovessynchronously with'the machine drive of said form set. J l

2. In a multiple continuous form aligning device for retaining the formcopies of a form set in alignment while passing through a machine, analigning-u t comprising, spa'ced pulleys for sup-'- porting an endlessbelt driven by'o'ne of said pulleys, said belt having a run thereofadjoining and extending parallel tosaid form set, project-F ing pinsprovided on said belt for engaging in perforations in the formset; guidemembers carrled by said pulleys for. confining said form set and saidbelt rungtherebetween while said form to thereby insure the projectionof said pins through all sheets of said form set, and gearing operatedfrom the machine for rotatingsaid drivlng pulley so that said belt movesat the ing unit, whereby s'aidbelt moves 3 same speed as the machinedrive of said form set. v a a 3. In a multiple continuous form aligningdevice for retaining the'form copies of a form set I in'alignment whilepassing through a'machine, 5 1

an aligning unit comprising, spaced pulleys ior supporting an endlessbelt-driven by one of said pulleys, s'aid belt having a run thereofadjoining and extending parallel to said form set, cooperating' pin andsocket means on said belt and driving pulley for eliminating slippage ofsaid belt, projecting pins provided on said belt for engaging inperforations in thefforr'n set, guide members carried by said'pulleysfor confining said belt run and said form set therebetween,

whereby all form copies of the form set are en-,

gaged, by said projecting pins, and means for rotating said drivingpulley wherebythesurface speed of said belt is the same asthe machinespeed of said form set. k

4. In a multiple i'orm aligning .device for accounting, tabulating andsimilar machines, a frame member mounted on the machine in overlyingrelation to a form set moving from the platen of the machine, aligningunits carried by counting, 'tabulating and similar machines, a framemember mounted on the machine in overlying relation to a form set movingfrom the 5. In a multiple form aligiiing device for ac- I platen of themachine, aligning units carried by said frame member, said aligningunits comprising endless belts provided with projecting pins forengaging perforations in the marginal edges of'said form set, screwmeans provided on said frame member for moving said aligning unitssimultaneously toward and away from each other for accommodating varyingwidths of form sets,

" and additional means formoving said aligning units simultaneouslyacrossthe machine to acconimodate iorm setsat various positions alongthe machine platen. 1

6.-'l'.n a multiple continuousform aligning device for accounting,tabulating and similar machines, a substantially rect'angularframememher having legs for mounting the same on the machine, parallel spacedshafts journaled in-the- I ends of said frame member; a form aligningunit comprising pulleys mounted for longitudinal sliding movement onsaid shafts, an. endlessbelt mounted on said pulleys and havingprojecting pinsfor engaging" perforations in the form set after the sameleaves the machine platen, guide" members carried by said pulleys andserving 1:97:00 hold a run-oi saidbelt in cooperative engagement withsaid form set, and power transmission means connecting the platen shaftto one of said parallel shafts for driving a pulley of saidalignsynchronously with the machine platen. f "7'. In-a multiple formaligning device for accounting, tabulating and similar machines, a sub'-,stantially rectangular frame member having legs for mounting the sameon' the machine, parallel spaced shafts journaled in the ends of saidframe member-fa form aligning unit comprising pulleys 1 mounted for.longitudinal slidingmovement on forations in the form set after the sameleaves the machine platen, guide members carried by said pulleys andserving to hold a run of said belt in cooperative engagement with saidform set, and power transmission means connecting the platen shaft toone of said parallel shafts for driving a pulley of said aligning unit,whereby said belt moves synchronously with the machine platen, and screwmeans for setting said form aligning unit at selected points along thelength of said frame member.

8. In combination, an accounting and tabulating machine having acylindrical platen for driving a continuous form set and an aligningdevice for maintaining the several copies of the form set in alignment,said aligning device comprising, a frame member mounted on said machineabove the form set, a pair of spaced parallel shafts carried by saidframe member, means for driving one of said shafts from said platen, apair of aligning units carried by said shafts, each of said aligningunits comprising pulleys mounted on said shafts, a belt passing oversaid pulleys and having projecting pins for engaging perforations in theform set, and guides carried by said pulleys for holding said belt incooperative engagement with the form set.

9. In combination, an accounting and tabulating machine having acylindrical platen for driving a continuous form set and an aligningdevice for maintaining the several copies of the form set in alignment,said aligning device comprising, a substantially rectangular framemember mounted on said machine above the form set, a pair of spacedparallel shafts carried by said frame member, means for driving one ofsaid shafts from said platen, a pair of aligning units carried by

